INDUSTRIALISED SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS
The project, the work of Vivas Arquitectos and EXE Arquitectura, consists of the construction of a social housing building using a prefabricated modular system. Its design integrates with the industrial environment and allows for a flexible distribution of spaces.
The building incorporates exterior walkways that promote community interaction and generate a gradual transition between public and private space. The construction combines traditional foundations with prefabricated 3D modules, optimising time, costs, materials and sustainability. The use of industrialised materials guarantees quality, durability and efficiency, reducing environmental impact and improving the assembly and maintenance process.
45 Industrialised social housing units
The project involves the construction of 45 social housing units, each with two bedrooms, distributed within an eight-storey building covering a to- tal area of 4.465 m2, with communal facilities on the ground floor.
Industrial environment and adaptability
The proposal is conceived as a residential building understood as a habit- able infrastructure with a clear and modulated structure, a prefabricated 3D modular construction that allows flexible use with possible changes in the future. The architectural proposal enters into dialogue with the exist- ing textile factory, with a characteristic industrial architectural language.
Community transition
A gradient is established from the main road, the passageway, the en- trance porch and the access walkways to the dwellings, which are under- stood as ‘elevated exterior passages’, resolving the transition between the community and the dwelling. The walkways fulfil the dual function of filtering the accesses to the dwellings and strengthening relations between neighbours through the appropriation of these intermediate spaces.
In addition, complementary communal spaces are proposed on the ground floor and roof of the building. These include multi-purpose areas, a large communal terrace with garden areas and shaded spaces for neighbourhood use.
Construction duality
- On-site construction: Foundations and ground floor.
- Off-Site construction: According to the manufacturing company’s own methodology of factory assembled 3D modules, equipped with structure, walls, internal divisions, installations, finishes and equipment. Time, Cost and Material Optimisation The structural rationality of the layout distribution and the spans to be covered led to the choice of a portico-like structures with concrete pillars and lightweight reinforced concrete slabs. The project consisted of a total of 104 prefabricated 3D modules, which were transported and assembled on site in just 15 days, enabling a significant reduction in construction times. As all building materials are prefabricated, construction times were optimised through precise planning, simultaneous execution with the work on site and minimum displacements. This also helped to reduce construction costs: light structure and reduction of foundations; to improve quality control: factory controls; to reduce environmental impact during construction: optimisation and reduction of waste; to ensure the closure of the life cycle of the materials at the end of the building’s life and to guarantee safety and comfort at work. The prefabrication of all the elements has guaranteed the execution and durability of the materials. In addition, it allowed the work to be completed in a total time of only 13 months. The operation of the installations has been designed to minimise energy and maintenance costs. The correct functioning of the installations has been tested in the factory, and the modules have been waterproofed at the top to avoid problems during transport and assembly with a heavy-duty mobile crane. Sustainability The A-certified building combines passive and active strategies to reduce energy demand and consumption. Its bioclimatic design optimises air conditioning, while efficient systems such as LED lighting, aerothermal and photovoltaic systems are incorporated to achieve near-zero consumption of non-renewable energy.
